Erythrocyte membranes in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus are characterized by a decreased content of high-molecular-weight proteins and increased content of lowmolecular-weight proteins and fractions of aggregated material against the background of increased microviscosity of deep membrane layers and changes in the protein-lipid interactions. These abnormalities were found in phases of clinical metabolic decompensation and subcompensation.Key words: erythrocyte: membrane protein spectrum; lipid bilayer microviscosity; insulindependent diabetes mellitus; children Abnormalities of peripheral blood erythrocytes, such as composition of membrane proteins and lipids, functional characteristics of the ion-transporting systems, biophysical characteristics of lipid bilayer, rheological properties, etc., play an important role in the development of diabetic microangiopathies in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) [3,4,10]. Sustained metabolic and structural disturbances in functional activity of mature erythrocytes aggravate tissue hypoxia, which to a certain extent determines the prognosis and the course of the primary disease [2]. Detailed study of the peripheral element of the erythron in children with IDDM allow to optimize monitoring systems and enhance the efficacy of traditional endocrinological therapy in children. MATERIALS AND METHODSand ultrasound investigation of the abdominal organs. The control group included 35 healthy children. Blood was collected from the vein. Erythrocyte membrane proteins were analyzed by disk-electrophoresis in PAAG according to Laemmli. Stained gels were scanned, and the images were processed with a computer software, which allows averaging across the row and to calculation of the area of each peak. Protein fractions were classified according to Fainbanks and Steck [12]. Intrinsic fluorescence (FL) of erythrocyte ghosts and fluorescence of probes incorporated into the erythrocyte membranes were recorded on a Hitachi-MPF-4 spectrofluorimeter. Pyrene (Sigma) was used as a fluorophore [7]. The data were analyzed by ANOVA statistics. Student t test was used to compare the groups of parameters with normal distribution, otherwise nonparametric tests were used.Seventy-nine children with IDDM aged 4-15 years were examined. Diagnosis was based on medical history, physical examination, blood biochemical tests. RESULTSIn children with decompensated IDDM with ketoacidosis the content of spectrin during treatment was significantly decreased compared to the control. At the same time, the level of t~-spectrin did not differ from

No abstract

No abstract